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Ontario Sandwich Trophy: 2010-11 rubber match

This afternoon, the Buffalo Bulls come to town, and will attempt to do what the in-aptly nicknamed women’s basketball team did last Saturday, but what their football team has never managed to do. (Never ever!) Namely, beat EMU and capture the coveted Ontario Sandwich Trophy.

There are a few other matters to deal with before the trophy is to be awarded, however.

First, the Ontario Sandwich Trophy game will be the second game of an EMU doubleheader. The much more formidable EMU women’s basketball team — who, despite another monster game from Cassie Schrock (29 points), were unable to take care of business against the…ahem… lady Bulls — will host the Bowling Green Falcons (19-4, 7-3 MAC) at 2 pm, with the men’s game set to tip off at 4:30.

Second, there’s the matter of EMU’s promotion du jour. “Green Goes Red” is “the University’s way of supporting heart disease prevention for women as part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Day, which was held Friday, Feb. 4…All fans wearing a red shirt will be admitted free to the game to help cheer on the Eagles. Additionally, the American Heart Association will be providing heart-healthy information, as well as distributing 100 get healthy cookbooks prior to the women’s game.”

Third, EMU will be honoring the 1990-1991 men’s basketball team, which won the MAC regular season and tournament champships and, as a #12 seed, defeated Mississippi State (76-56) and Penn State (71-68) before losing to North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen to finish the year 26-7. That remains the most wins in school history. That was also the best shooting team in school history, averaging 51.4% from the field and and 72.7% from the line, both of which also remain school records. The team also recorded EMU’s highest score for a team not coached by Jim Dutcher, 120 points against Chicago State on February 20. Fourteen of the players from that team as well as two of the assistants (including Charles Ramsey) will be present. The former head coach, Ben Braun, however, will not be present, since he’ll be coaching the Rice Owls at UAB that night. (FunDepressing fact: Braun’s teams have won 248 games since he left EMU. EMU has won 175 during that time.)

Does EMU have a chance against Buffalo? Realistically, probably not, although the Eagles do have the reigning MACWDPotW in Brandon Bowdry. The good news is that even at 3-7 in the MAC (6-17 overall), the Eagles are tied for third in the West Division, which sounds respectable until you realize that the best team in the West (Ball State) is just one game ahead of the worst teams in the East (Akron and Ohio).

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EMU cannot draw flies anymore. Less than 1200 in attendance, I can only imagine what the Sweet 16 players, honored at halftime were thinking, as they surveyed the nearly empty arena. I hope Eastern doesn’t embarrass Earl Boykins on Feb. 28 when they retire his number. Would it be too much to ask for 3000 at that game? No two ways about, we have to get out of that mausoleum.